Detective Conan: Death Note

After taking a taxi back to Beika's Second Apartment and riding the elevator to the door of his residence, Hayashi Yoshiki saw a petite figure standing in front of his door.

Short, brown, wavy hair.

She was holding a small bag and just standing there quietly.

If the sound of the elevator door opening hadn't attracted her attention, she seemed to have been standing in the corridor, staring outside in a daze.

"Ai-chan?"

"I brought you some medicine."

Her childish voice revealed a kind of intelligence, which was also the unique charm of Haibara Ai.

"Why didn't you call me?" Hayashi Yoshiki walked forward and opened the door with his key.

"When I came out, I realized my phone was out of battery."

Haibara Ai answered honestly.

After school today, she bought various materials, prepared and mixed the medicine, and then rushed to Hayashi Yoshiki without stopping.

Who would have thought that her phone would run out of battery and that no one would open the door after she rang the doorbell?

"You could have just rung the doorbell next door."

This was probably the first time Haibara Ai heard that Kisaki Eri lived next to Hayashi Yoshiki.

But even if she had known, she probably wouldn't have pressed it.

Following Hayashi Yoshiki into the house, Haibara Ai took out a small jar from her bag.

"This is the ointment I prepared. You only need to apply it twice a day. It won't leave scars."

"Just for this thing, you—a little kid—came all the way here in the middle of the night?"

"I'm not really a child."

Haibara Ai stated this very seriously, then added, "Of course, it's best to use the ointment as soon as possible."

Hearing her say this, Hayashi Yoshiki simply rubbed her head.

He applied the ointment in front of Haibara Ai.

"Thanks."

"It's nothing. Just to save you from worrying about unnecessary things."

"Are you saying I'm worried about not being able to find a girlfriend?"

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and leaned down in front of Haibara Ai.

Because of his movement, Haibara Ai could more clearly feel the difference in their heights.

She was silent for a moment.

"I want to go back."

"If you go back to Dr. Agasa's house, he's not there right now."

"?"

Haibara Ai looked puzzled.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and said, "He went to Gunma Prefecture with Conan."

"Why? And how do you know?"

"Secret."

Ignoring the slightly sulky expression on Haibara Ai's face, Hayashi Yoshiki walked to the water dispenser and poured himself a glass of water.

"If you don't believe me, you can call Dr. Agasa's house now and ask. If you want, you can stay here tonight. I'll take you back tomorrow."

"…Then I'll make a phone call and check."

Haibara Ai hesitated for a moment, then walked directly to the landline and called Dr. Agasa's home.

No one answered for a long time, and then it automatically went to voicemail.

…Then just stay.

Although Haibara Ai didn't know exactly what she would be doing by staying.

Hayashi Yoshiki glanced at the clock.

22:41.

With Gin's punctual personality, if he said he would come at three in the morning, he would come at exactly three o'clock.

There was still time to make some preparations.

She opened her eyes groggily in the guest bedroom.

She had woken up for no apparent reason.

The curtains were tightly drawn—it was obviously still a long time before dawn.

…

Grabbing a corner of the brand-new sheet with her small hands and covering half of her face, Haibara Ai felt a strong sense of security in her distress.

Cointreau, are you asleep already?

Even though it was a somewhat unfamiliar environment, she felt an incredible sense of security here.

Even though she couldn't fall back asleep, she felt very comfortable in this quiet, steady flow of time—a feeling where she could empty her mind without having to think about anything.

Hidden under the sheets, she gave a faint smile.

At that moment, Hayashi Yoshiki had already arrived at the bottom of the apartment building.

An inconspicuous black car just pulled up, and when the window was lowered, Vodka's face was revealed.

"The timing is perfect."

Without hesitation, Hayashi Yoshiki got into the back seat.

Vodka slowly stepped on the accelerator, and the car quickly drove forward.

"It's really snowing heavily in the middle of the night," he muttered.

"So, what are we going to trade?" Hayashi Yoshiki asked.

"A system of AI logic algorithms," the man sitting in the passenger seat said with his hands in his pockets.

"It sounds a bit similar to that previous artificial intelligence system."

Snort.

When it was mentioned, a gloomy look flashed across Gin's eyes.

The organization and all the things he had once looked forward to had turned out to be nothing in the end, and he had nearly died there.

However, Vodka, who was still driving, responded to Hayashi Yoshiki's words.

"It can't be compared with the artificial intelligence from last time. What we want that guy to develop now is a logic algorithm used in human genetic programming."

…

"The organization has been committed to developing drugs that modify and improve human genes. Although there have been significant results, it is still an enormous project."

Even though the side effects of APTX4869 are still not fully understood, as the head of the action team, Gin was very clear about the overall direction of many projects within the organization.

The information revealed by Gin and Vodka made Hayashi Yoshiki fully understand what the organization had wanted Itakura Taku to develop.

An AI logic algorithm system applied to human genetic programming.

The organization likely wanted this because the development of drugs like APTX4869 had encountered technical bottlenecks at the genetic level.

The human gene pool is immense, and gene arrangements grow exponentially.

If AI algorithms could be used to deduce and find optimal combinations in the human gene pool, and then further develop APTX4869 or similar drugs… it would indeed bring great benefits to the organization.

No wonder Itakura Taku finally chose to abandon the development of this system for the sake of "the welfare of all mankind."

The car slowly drove toward the agreed-upon destination.

During this time, Gin took out his phone and began giving orders.

—After experiencing the Noah's Ark incident at the pharmaceutical factory, he naturally became even more cautious when carrying out important missions.

"Have you all arrived?"

"We have."

"Stay where I say and keep watch."

After hanging up the phone, he glanced at Vodka.

"When we get there, you go in first."

"…Okay, big brother."

Vodka had originally thought this was just a routine mission, but he hadn't expected his boss to be this cautious.

Going alone?

Feeling a little nervous because of this, Vodka swallowed hard.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and said, "Be careful, Mr. Vodka."

"Of course I will."